Walker held himself with an iron-clad control until Ivy’s breathing slowed and her body relaxed against him in the most torturous of ways.

It was surreal to sneak out of Ivy’s room after pulling on his wet clothes, considering all the times and days when they’d been in their teens and he would’ve liked nothing better than to be in bed with her.

But most definitely not in her parents’ house.

He used the phone in the kitchen to make the call, his cell useless after its dip in the pool.

Mrs. Fields answered the call at Fallen Books. She took the news that her daughter was tucked into bed and sleeping with amazing fortitude. “I’m heading home right now. Stay with her.”

No way was Walker going to ignore the order.

So he turned around and went back up to Ivy’s room, pulling the chair from her desk and sitting close beside the bed. A wisp of hair had fallen across her face, but he didn’t dare move it because she’d finally settled into a heavy sleep.

Staring at her made something inside him ache.

The door to the room opened. Sophie Fields came in quietly and Walker left, totally ignored as Ivy’s mom moved quickly to the bed to check on her.

For a moment he thought he’d gotten away without having to explain everything. Nope—

Malachi Fields was waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs.

“I took a tumble into the pool at Heart Falls, and Ivy got it into her head to come rescue me,” Walker explained quickly. Even as the words escaped, they sounded stupid.

Malachi raised a brow. “Why would she think you needed rescuing? Last I heard you could swim.”

And here came the troublesome part. Walker assumed another panic attack was involved, but his brilliant idea of the water making him come to must’ve been wishful thinking. “We’ll have to ask her. I got her home and warmed up as quickly as I could. Hopefully she’s okay.”

Ivy’s father was looking at him with more than disapproval. There was fear in his eyes—fear for his daughter, which was turning rapidly into anger against Walker. And Walker was pretty fine with that when it came right down to it.

Malachi straightened, his eyes flashing a warning. “I hope she is as well. But you might want to rethink your relationship with my daughter. I understood you weren’t planning on seeing each other anymore.”

Of course Ivy would’ve talked to her parents after their date. Walker wondered what she’d told them. “No, sir.”

The older man stared daggers. “That might be best. If it’s what you want, don’t keep dragging this out. It’s not fair to either of you.”

He wasn’t saying things like “maybe you’re too dangerous to have around my girl,” but the gist was there. Malachi was a protective father ready to step in the same way he had over ten years ago.

Walker wanted to protest that he hadn’t asked Ivy to jump in to save him, but the reality was— God, he didn’t want to think about what could’ve happened if she hadn’t been there. “Yes, sir.”

Mr. Fields shook his head then gestured toward the door. “Come on. I’ll drive you home. I was going to stop in at my mother-in-law’s, and Silver Stone is on the way.”

It was too far to walk, and without a phone he couldn’t call one of his brothers to come pick him up. “Thanks.”

Thank God the awkward, silent ride was over quickly.

Walker waited until later that night to call and see how Ivy was doing. He got Sophie on the line who was reassuring, but she determinedly put off letting him talk to Ivy.

It wasn’t until the next day he got his phone to work and found he had a text from her.

He thought for a bit before responding: Worried about you.

He was pretty sure there was a smart comment in there regarding him, but he chose to ignore it because he had no other option. Not unless he wanted to up and tell her the entire story about his panic attacks.

And that was it. She didn’t ask for any further explanations, and that in itself had him more confused than expected.

The Ivy he’d known at school would have dug in her heels, figuratively, and not given up without getting to the bottom of it. She’d been physically frail, but she’d had a will made out of the strongest iron.

It seemed she was taking him at his word and moving on.

So Walker tried to do the same. He fell into chores with a vengeance, as well as working out and running to stay fit. Countless sit-ups, hanging crunches, and balance exercises until his abs throbbed and his torso quivered. Being tossed about on the back of a bull was a dangerous pastime made moderately safer by being in rock-solid shape.

Besides, pounding out miles and pushing iron was a good way to work off frustration.

It was good to labour with his family and to push his body hard, but every time he caught himself thinking back to the panic attacks, that strange sensation of hopelessness returned.

Why did they take control sometimes and not others?

He drove a couple hours south to a rodeo training center and helped some younger riders with their practice rides. Watching and waiting for a clue to jump up and smack him in the face.

A day later he got pulled into branding, working in the fields, and roping with his brothers.

Luke and Dusty were there. Caleb had convinced his friend Josiah Ryder to come out. The five of them spent an entire afternoon with Ashton and a bunch of the other hands all crowding in and helping where they could, the animals milling around in organized chaos.

At one point there were more cowboys than animals in the area. Walker turned and stared over the land, admiring the view that was a part of his soul.

“Hey, stop daydreaming and get to work.”

Walker jerked back to attention, tipping his hat at Ashton. “Just waiting for everyone to catch up.”

The older man raised a brow. “Nice try, but it didn’t work when you were eighteen and I caught you staring off into space, and it’s not going to work now. Get up,” he warned with a laugh.

Walker took the scolding even though he had been waiting his turn. It was too good to be with his family and friends, labouring in the heat and sun.

When he did get distracted a few minutes later and ended up on his backside in the dirt, laughter rang loud and clear while he took the teasing with a smile. This much at least was right. Family, hard work. If it weren’t for the financial worries hanging over them, Walker realized he could be happy spending his days like this forever.

They were all covered with dust and slick with sweat by the time they were done for the day.

Back at the barn, Dustin hurried through cleanup before racing away at a high speed.

Caleb rolled his eyes.

Walker didn’t bother to hide his amusement. “Dustin got a hot date?”

Caleb sighed but offered a faint grin. “He’s heading out with Ashton to Uncle Frank’s. They’ll take the calves we don’t need.”

“Seems pleased.” It looked as if Caleb’s idea was going to work.

“He’s out of his mind with excitement. He’s off to tell Tamara and the girls.”

Oh man. “Hang in there.” Walker offered.

Caleb nodded. “Tamara’s aware of his…infatuation. She thinks it’s cute, but it’ll be good to not have him underfoot for a week.”

“Are you and Tamara coming out tomorrow night?” Josiah called from across the barn. “Kelli mentioned this morning that the girls are having a sleepover with her.”

Caleb raised a brow as he looked at his friend. “Think that one through a little harder. I’m going to have an empty house with my wife, and you want to know if we’re going to leave it?”

Josiah snickered. “Sorry. Don’t know where my brain was.”

Caleb took off. Luke, Walker, and Josiah continued to work with the horses. Luke guided the veterinarian through the animals that needed to be checked, and Walker joined in, trying to help where he could.

“What’re you doing tomorrow?” Walker asked. “Sounded as if there’s something special going on.”

“A new owner took over Rough Cut. Ryan set up a line dance night.”

Walker laughed. “That’s a selling feature?”

Josiah looked at him as if he were an idiot. “Seriously? I suppose, you being a rodeo star and all, you don’t have to know this, but women love line dancing. It’s like smorgasbord night.”

Amusement danced in Luke’s eyes. “It’s not as if you have any trouble finding women either. When are you going to stop eating from the buffet table and make a selection?”

“Who says I haven’t already?”

“Bullshit,” Luke snapped. “You just told us you’re happy there’s a new hunting ground in town. You wouldn’t be saying that if you’d already picked a woman.”

“If I haven’t claimed them, I’m still on the market.”

“I take it you don’t like your balls too much, saying that when you’ve got your eye on a woman. Or you’re not too worried about it getting back to them.”

Josiah shrugged. “I didn’t say I was through with the all-you-can-eat buffet, yet. And I don’t go through the entire buffet, I choose the best. I like to take one thing at a time and really enjoy it…”

“…before moving on to the next?” Luke eyed him. “You’re lucky my sister isn’t around so I know you’re not talking about her, or I’d feel obligated to beat the crap out of you for making that kind of comment.”

“You’re the one who talked about moving on to the next one. I didn’t say anything of the sort,” Josiah pointed out.

“Oops,” Luke muttered.

“Catch me up,” Walker said, trying to change the topic before Josiah dug himself into a grave. “I’ve been gone for long enough I don’t know who’s taken and who’s still single among the girls we went to school with.”

“Why are you interested? I mean, you already laid claim to Ivy, considering that kiss the other day. Or was that all some kind of a show for the auction?” Josiah looked as if he really wanted to know the answer, but it was hard to tell with him because the man had the best poker face of anyone around.

Walker forced himself to make it sound real. “Ivy and I were together in high school, but we’re not interested in each other like that now.”

Liar.

Luke was staring at him as if he were shocked by the admission. Then he went on to answer the question, although his answer was no better than another taunt, thankfully aimed at Josiah. “None of the Fields girls are married or dating, although Rose seems interested in Josiah,” Luke said.

“Oh, bullshit.” Josiah didn’t even glance up from where he was working on a hoof. “She’s never looked at me twice, and I’ve certainly never given her any sign I wanted to get together with her.”

“You’re the local vet, bro. You’re like all the shiny doctor stuff with ranch knowledge thrown in. I think Fern has a crush on you too.”

“They’re way too young for me,” Josiah said. “Luke, your friend Glenn is closer to them in age. You should toss him their direction. Since you’re already taken, I can’t suggest you try.”

Walker considered. “Where is Penny these days?” He hadn’t seen her since the day he’d nearly interrupted them in the tack room.

“On a trip to Europe with her dad.” Luke looked distracted. “She’s not back until late August.”

“Bummer.”

Luke made a face. “They offered for me to come along, but I figured I should stick around.”

Josiah’s jaw dropped. “Seriously? You turned them down?”

“I don’t have the money to pay my way, and I’m not going to bum a ride and expect Mr. Talisman to pay for everything. But I didn’t want Penny to miss out on the trip, so yeah, it sucks, but we’re keeping in touch.” He turned to Walker. “Speaking of which, Glenn is coming with us to bring horses to Red Deer, since you said you didn’t want to go.”

It was one way to evade seeing anyone he knew at the rodeo that would be happening. “Glenn still lives in town?”

“Three range roads to the east, yeah.”

Glenn had never been one of Walker’s favourite people. He wasn’t sure why the thought struck, but it did with annoying intensity. Glenn was staying around the community—able and probably willing to get involved with Ivy.

Frustration ran up one side of Walker and down the other, and he found himself saying a curt goodbye. He stomped his way to the bunkhouse and scrubbed up, the hot water pounding against him. Dirt and sweat swirled down the drain, but his black mood refused to wash away.

And when he slipped back to his bunk and lay on the bed, the four walls closed in around him, thoughts of Ivy taunted him. Her asking if he was sticking around, her coming to save him…

Her looking at him as if she wanted nothing more than to be swept into his arms and…

Walker jerked upright and threw his pillow across the room in frustration. He had nothing to offer her; nothing to offer his family. Only a gut full of anger and frustration, and far too many unanswered questions.

The world had carried on while he’d been farting away his time. Even their small town was changing and turning with the tide, yet here he was, frozen into immobility. No decisions made and no future until he did.

He pulled out his phone and stared at the messages from Ivy. Don’t make a habit of it. Make a habit of what? Getting into disasters and hauling her after him? Thinking about her?

Wanting her?

This was bullshit on so many levels, and he’d fucking had enough. Screw this.

Walker jerked on his clothes. Maybe it was wrong, but it was the right kind of wrong. He wanted to see her, and he wasn’t going to sit here doing nothing when that was the one thing that he knew for certain he did want.

He jammed his feet back in his boots, slammed on his hat, and headed for his truck.

---

Ivy had turned her waking hours into a blur of work and family. She’d avoided any terrible repercussions from her dip into the Heart Falls pool. She’d been a bit shaky, but whether or not it was the miracle cure of Walker’s naked body pressed against hers—and she totally wasn’t ignoring the potential good in knowing that information—other than sleeping for nearly twelve hours then having to put up with her parents’ concerned questions the following day, she’d felt fine.

But the momentary setback made her determined to get into her new home as quickly as possible.

For the past week, everyone in the Fields family had been over at the tiny bungalow, scraping off old wallpaper, painting, and generally fixing things up.

Rose stepped back with a happy hum as she glanced around what Ivy had to admit was a tiny, but perfect, master bedroom. “I love it. There’s still not enough room to swing a cat, but it’s peaceful, and it’s pretty, and I’m totally jealous.”

The walls were a faint dusty rose, the window trim white, and the overhead light had been covered with a soft, creamy light shade that bathed the entire room with a candlelight glow.

“It’s the only room done in the entire house, but I think Tansy was right. The place has good bones.”

Rose stepped around the edge of the bed, running a hand over the quilt that Grandma Sonora had given Ivy as a homecoming present. Pale squares in pastel colours matched perfectly with the old-fashioned feel of the room.

“I think you were smart to start with this room.” Rose lifted her eyes to smile at Ivy. “It means you can move out, right? You don’t have to stay with Mom and Dad anymore?”

Ivy didn’t need to feel guilty for wanting to be out from under their roof. She was a grown woman, but it was good to know someone else understood her urgency. “I love them, and they’re wonderful, but it’s time be on my own.”

Rose nodded. “Why do you think Tansy and I live over the shop? It’s a five-minute walk from Mom and Dad’s, and we could live there rent-free, but when it’s time to move on…we move on.”

Still, it was good that her sisters had each other. Ivy looked at Rose and wondered if she knew how precious the relationship she had with Tansy was.

Heck, the relationship they had between the four girls was something beautiful considering they’d all come from such different backgrounds. Choice had made them a family.

“Definitely time to move on,” Ivy agreed. “Help bring in my things from the car? I didn’t let Mom see me pack them. I thought it would be easier if I got some of it out of the way without her knowing.”

Because after her incident with Walker, it was even more important for Ivy to prove to her parents she could stand on her own two feet. She knew they understood she would always come to them for help, but it was her decision about how her life went.

They’d moved in half of the boxes when, to her surprise, a far too familiar truck approached.

Rose paused with her arms wrapped around a box of books, staring with disapproval at Walker’s truck. “What’s he doing?”

“Driving past, I hope.” Ivy turned away as if that was the end of the conversation. She grabbed two suitcases from the trunk and marched toward the house. Working hard to act lighthearted and not at all curious.

“Liar.” A soft snicker escaped her sister.

“Shut up,” Ivy muttered.

Along with everything else—frustrated at his first refusal, confused by his stupidity at the falls—Ivy was pissed off at Walker Stone. Not because of anything specific he’d done, but because trying to figure out how to approach him was tormenting her.

Just the thought of him sent her system into hot flashes. She’d been dreaming about him. Sweet dreams where they’d be walking side by side in the park after school, their hands linked and shoulders bumping innocently. And then the dream would turn, and he’d be stripping her bare and covering her with his body and…

In all the years she’d been gone, she’d never had a quarter this kind of reaction to any other man. She’d begun to think her entire libido was broken, but obviously not. She remembered distinctly that, even while shivering madly in her bed, some of the heat between them had not been generated because of the furnace beneath Walker’s skin.

Nope. It seemed she was hotwired to the Stone frequency.

And now, after a week of stewing herself into a tizzy, he was driving up like he didn’t have a care in the world? She didn’t know if she should jump up and down with excitement or scream in frustration.

A hand landed softly on her shoulder, dragging her attention to her sister’s face. Rose’s dark-brown eyes had gone soft. “Sometimes people don’t know what they want. And sometimes people know what they want, but they’re not quite sure how to get it.”

“Which camp am I in?”

Her sister shrugged, dark hair falling around her shoulders as she moved. “I think you know what you want, but you’re not sure if it’s okay to take it.”

“I don’t think Walker would like to be spoken about as an it.”

“He’s not an it,” Rose said dryly. “But there’s something up with him and has been for a long time. We know he likes you. Honestly, the man has been panting after you for years.”

“Oh, please.”

Rose continued as if she hadn’t been interrupted. “We know this from how often he asked about you while pretending he wasn’t hanging on our every word. You said he didn’t want to get involved, but it doesn’t make sense.”

Which was exactly the part that was bugging her. Ivy nodded as his truck slowly turned up her driveway, no longer uncertain of his destination.

As confused and mixed-up as she was, Ivy knew her sister was right. Walker was confused and mixed-up about a lot of things as well.

They had enough history, they had enough of them, there was no reason why she shouldn’t dig a little deeper and see if she could convince him to change his mind.

Between the conversation with Rose, the one with Brad days ago, and the fact Walker was offering himself up to her doorstep like a special delivery package, it seemed fairly serendipitous. This was the opportunity she’d been looking for.

She screwed up her courage and turned to Rose as Walker’s boots hit the ground. “You should head out.”

Rose’s lips curled into a smile as she raised a brow, the delicate arch oh-so-meaningful. “Call me later.”

She pulled on her jacket and headed down the porch steps, passing Walker with no more than a quick wave as if she had urgent business elsewhere.

Walker seemed to have an urgent target as well, at least until his boots landed on her stairs.

The first step creaked ominously under him, and he glanced down, his face transforming with a frown. “Need a hand fixing that?”

“Maybe.” Only this wasn’t the time to discuss home repair. Not when she had more important plans.

She gave herself a firm pep talk. Just because she was shy didn’t mean she was a pushover. It also didn’t mean she had to let all of her goals go by the wayside. If Walker didn’t know exactly what he wanted, maybe she could help him figure it out. He’d said he had nothing to offer her, but he was wrong. He had exactly what she needed, but for some reason he wasn’t able to see it.

So she’d get around his reluctance by wording it in a way he couldn’t resist.

Walker pulled to a stop in front of her, all long limbs and delicious cowboy, denim and plaid, sturdy stance and intense eyes. “We need to talk.”

Oh boy, did they ever. “Come in.”